CLWYD South Assembly Member Ken Skates has this week pledged his support for Marie Curie Cancer Care following the official launch of the charity’s Great Daffodil Appeal in Wales.

Labour AM Mr Skates joined a group of Marie Curie nurses, community fundraisers and the charity’s Chief Executive, Dr Jane Collins, at the Senedd, Cardiff Bay, on Wednesday (February 12).

The Great Daffodil Appeal, Marie Curie’s flagship annual fundraising campaign, encourages people to donate and wear one of their iconic daffodil pins throughout March. The money raised helps the charity provide free care to people with a terminal illness, both in communities across Wales and at the Marie Curie Hospice in Cardiff and the Vale.

Last year a total of 1,000 volunteers helped support the Great Daffodil Appeal by giving up an hour of their time to collect donations from members of the public. Together, they raised more than £238,756. The total raised through community fundraising in 2013 was over £1.3m, which enabled the provision of expert care to approximately 3,000 terminally ill Welsh patients and their families.

Mr Skates said: “Marie Curie offers amazing support to those affected by terminal illness in Clwyd South and across the whole of Wales, so I am hugely proud to support them during this year’s Great Daffodil Appeal.

“I would encourage anyone to donate and wear their daffodil pin throughout March because, aside from the daffodil being a special emblem for the people of Wales, the donation given will make an enormous difference to a number of terminally ill patients in need of expert care.”

Simon Jones, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Wales for Marie Curie, said: “We are delighted to have the support of Ken Skates AM as our fundraising activities are vital to ensure we can continue to provide the highest standards of care to patients at a time when they need it most.

“Every service provided by Marie Curie relies on charitable donations. The generosity of people from across Wales makes our work possible and, in return, ensures that every penny raised in Wales is spent in Wales.”

To find out how you can get involved in the Great Daffodil Appeal, visit www.maricurie.org.uk/daffodil, follow @mariecurieuk on Twitter or call 0845 601 3107.

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